The Ferry Landing on Miya River, Ise Province (Ise Miyakawa no watashiba) from the series “One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei)”
Medium
Color woodblock print
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
196785
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Step into the tranquil world of 19th-century Japan with *The Ferry Landing on Miya River,se Province* (Ise Miyakawa noashiba), a stunning color woodblock print by Utagawa Hirosh II (Shigenobu), created in 1859. Part of the renowned series *One Hundred Famous in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei)*—originally begun by his master, Hiroshige I—this work captures a picturesque riverside scene in Ise Province, famed for its ancient Ise Grand Shrine, a major pilgrimage destination. Hiroshige II, a skilled ukiyo-e artist, faithfully continued the poetic landscape tradition, blending everyday life with natural beauty. The print showcases the intricate artistry of woodblock printing, where separate carved blocks were inked in vibrant colors and precisely overlaid to create depth and atmosphere. Expect misty river waters, ferrying passengers, and distant mountains under a vast sky—hallmarks of the Hiroshige school's emphasis on seasonal mood and transient moments, evoking the *mono no aware* (pathos of things) central to Japanese aesthetics. This piece reflects late Edo-period Japan on the cusp of modernization, celebrating scenic travel routes amid growing urbanization. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, it invites visitors to ponder how such affordable prints democratized art, bringing famous views into homes across society. A timeless gem! (198 words)
About the Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu) · 1826–1869
Utagawa Hiroshige II, born Suzuki Chinpei in 1826, was one of the most accomplished ukiyo-e artists of mid-nineteenth century Japan. He entered the studio of the celebrated landscape master Utagawa Hiroshige I — known for his iconic series "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" — and proved himself the most talented of the elder artist's few students. So highly regarded was the young pupil that...